Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Copy Link
Pumpkin Carving Hacks
The Anatomy of Pumpkins
Let’s face the facts. As fun as carving a pumpkin can be, the process can also be a LOT of work. You start out at the pumpkin patch or buy your pumpkin at a store. Bring it home. Clean it off. Saw open the top to reveal meaty orange flesh, sticky pulp and stringy webs holding on to a mess of seeds. And this is where the real work begins. Gutting your gourd requires you to submerge your hands, wrists and arms into a wet, sticky, and gooey cavern of pumpkin insides. Then you have to dig and scrape the insides out to have a clean palette to carve into and later light up. I know this task can be a tedious turn off. With this in mind, I compiled a list of pumpkin carving hacks that I have seen that will make the process easier.
Cut at an Angle
To me, this is a no brainer. But if you’re new to the pumpkin carving game make sure you cut your initial opening at an angle to prevent your pumpkin roof from caving in.
The First Cut is Made to Gut
If you are planning to light your pumpkin up using nontraditional lighting then you should try cutting your pumpkin open at the back or the bottom. This technique will also help you to avoid a pumpkin roof collapse. Just remember if you use an open flame candle you will still have to cut a chimney type of opening on the top of your pumpkin to give the smoke an escape route.
Gutting Made Easier: Using a Drill and a Beater
The fluorescent orange flimsy carving kits sold at the store can be a major pain to use. I have bent and broken many carving tools which is why I was excited to see this gutting hack. If you make your pumpkin opening large enough, you can clean out your pumpkin in minutes using this method. Simply tighten a mixer whisk onto your power drill and have at it. If you look on YouTube there are many videos showing how to do this technique but I linked one at random below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lz0rSQf_fX8
Gutting Made Easier: Using an Electric Hand Mixer
If you’re less of the Tim “The Toolman” Taylor variety, the previous hack will work using an electric hand mixer as well. You just don’t get the same amount of power from it.
Use A Dry Erase Marker To Make Your Design
Using a dry erase marker to trace or sketch out your design will allow you to wipe away any mistakes with ease.
Skip the Carving and Use Cookie Cutters and a Hammer to Make Your Design
If you have metal cookie cutters you can place them on your pumpkin and tap them into its flesh using a hammer to cut out your design.
Drill Pumpkin Carving Hack
If you’re a fan of the power tool hacks, you’ll like this one. Instead of carving, drill designs into your pumpkin!
Use Lite Brite Bulbs To Make Your Pumpkin Face
Start by using a drill, or a hammer and a nail to poke holes in your desired shape. Then insert Lite Brite bulbs into them to light up your pumpkin in a unique way.
Pumpkin Carving- There’s a Hack for That!
As you can see, there are so many pumpkin carving hacks that will make your Halloween crafting easier. If you’re not a fan of touching the guts, there’s a hack for that. Don’t like carving out designs? There’s a hack for that. Even if you want more unique lighting, there’s a hack for that. The list goes on. Pumpkin carving can be as easy or as difficult as you want to make it! So have fun trying out our hacks and let us know if there are any you would be willing to share!
@windermeremillcreek on Instagram
@Windermere Mill Creek Town Center on Facebook
@wremillcreek on Twitter
By Kerriann Jenkins
Michael Florentino Cellars Wine
Mill Creek Town Center Summer Wine Walk Stop #4
Our creative team of tasters almost missed stop number four because it was located off to the side of main street, but we doubled back to taste Michael Florentino Cellars wine hosted at Divaforeva Lashes.
Brief Background on Michael Florentino Cellars
Since I have already written a summarized background of Michael Florentino Cellars from our first wine walk blog, I will insert their history excerpt below:
As noted on their website, Michael Florentino began as a digital catalog winery. They made small batches for private label wine shops. Owner Brad Sherman studied at the UC Davis Vinology program and through volunteer work with local wineries and his time as VP at the Boeing wine club he fueled his own passion to begin making wine. Michael Florentino specializes in Spanish and Italian varietal wines and now has a tasting location and winery in Woodinville.
Michael Florentino Cellars hosted by Divaforeva Lashes
There was no way I was getting out of being adventurous at this tasting. The three wines on the serving list for the evening were all wines I was unfamiliar with. I’m not really sure the reasoning behind why I chose the wine that I did, but on a whim, I ended up asking to sample the 2018 Albarino.
Kerriann’s Wine Tasting Notes on Michael Florentino Cellars 2018 Albarino
This wine was served at room temperature, which was a bit on the warmer end; the reason I say this will be made clear soon. But for now, we will get into the tasting notes. This wine was a deep golden color and smelled evenly keeled. It tasted sweet, but not overly sweet and finished lightly tarte. There were notes of lemon, pineapple and sweeter fruits and a bit of oak on the tongue. I handed it over to Chasity to taste and she agreed that we both liked this wine. So, I bought a bottle to taste on a later day with a cleaner palette.
Kerriann’s Second Tasting of the 2018 Albarino
Unfortunately, tasting two did not go as well as I had expected. I will start by saying, I believe we served this wine incorrectly. Completely going against my own advice from our 7 Tips for Better Wine Storage blog, this bottle was put in the freezer and served ice cold. When I took my first sip it tasted very bitter and more aggressive. The longer I sat with it the warmer it got. As it thawed out the flavor profiles got a little bit smoother. Still, I liked it less then I had before. We probably should have let this one warm up all the way back to room temperature and tried it once more but we had purchased another bottle to have a second tasting with and moved on to that wine.
Chasity’s tasting notes on Michael Florentino Cellars 2018 Albarino
So this was an interesting tasting I must say….we decided to buy this bottle because we liked it so much, I will explain later. I love the color of this wine as it gives of a soft golden creamy color and smelled perfectly sweet. The first sip was a little sweet but soon provided a tartness that evened out the taste and balanced it well. It reminded me of a tropical fruity drink with a nice nice crisp note like peachy and flavors of mango. It was definitely one of my favorites!
Chasity’s Second 2018 Albarino Tasting Notes
I’ve never really paid attention to the exact temperature you are supposed to drink white wine at and how much of a difference it makes. Kerriann explained it the best as far as the second tasting of this wine, it did not go well. Serving chilled was a mistake as it needed to be served at room temperature. It would have been much much better on the pallet. The first taste was not as good as when we tasted it at room temperature. Very strong and overly tart. Although as I continued to taste it the better it got. I still recommend this wine but make sure you serve it at room temperature or just slightly chilled.
Hosting Etiquette
I think that this blog feature would be remiss without including our experience with the staff at Divaforeva Lashes. They were kind, they engaged in lighthearted banter and asked us how we liked our wine. They were the only business to take the time to chat with us while we were tasting (apart from our hosting broker at our Windermere tasting). Their warmness and inviting nature was appreciated.
I’m still up in the air on my opinion of the 2018 Albarino. If I had another bottle, I would try serving it at room temperature to see if that swayed my thoughts positively or negatively. Regardless, there are still seven more tastings to go. I’ll be updating the links below as we post them, so stay tuned for more!
Wine Tasting Notes to Come!
♦Harbinator Wines♦ ♦Drum Roll Wine♦ ♦Naches Heights Vineyard♦ ♦Kerloo Cellars♦ ♦Wandering Wolf Cellars♦ ♦Dahlman Cellars♦ ♦Martedi Cellars♦ ♦Navarre Coulee♦ ♦Bayernmoor♦ ♦Julian Margot♦ ♦Michael Florentino Cellars♦
Blog Written by Kerriann Jenkins
Blog Feature Chasity Rodriguez
Julian Margot Wine Tasting
Mill Creek Town Center Summer Wine Walk Stop #3
I love cheese. Sounds like a random statement taken out of context but when we made our third pit stop at First Financial Northwest Bank, they had laid out a charcuterie platter of meats, cheeses and fruits and I had to indulge in a few of them. So, with a few cheese hunks in hand I moved happily on to tasting number three with wine by Julian Margot.
Brief Background on Julian Margot
Julian Margot’s online footprint isn’t a large one. In the About section of their website I learned that they had their startup in 2020 by owners Chris & Leah Kellog. They do have some cute pictures posted though. Naturally, it made sense they only had wines featured from 2020-2021 at the event.
Julian Margot hosted by First Financial Northwest bank
I chose to sample the Julian Margot 2020 Malbec because it was the most expensive wine on the docket. I also have not had a lot of Malbec, so it seemed to be a more adventurous choice for me over the Rose & Merlot. As far as the tasting went, I was glad I chose this option.
Kerriann’s Wine Tasting Notes on the Julian Margot 2020 Malbec
The Malbec poured out a dark purple blue in tone and smelled deeply sweet. The first sip was a rich heavy sweet mouthful that was eventually cancelled out by a light tarte finish. This wine was fruit forward and the flavor profiles lingered on the taste buds. It moved more slowly on the tongue and presented itself like liquid jam and cocoa. But the tannins and the tartness married themselves to these flavors and cancelled them out. I still found that the journey of the flavor development made this wine well rounded overall. I enjoyed this wine.
Chasity’s Wine Tasting Notes on the Julian Margot 2021 Rose
I really loved the color The Rose poured, a pretty pink, you know like (Pretty In Pink)….The first taste was bitter and a little tart but quickly turned as it hit my pallet with the second sip. It was smooth and refreshing with a very light and crisp after taste. Very well balanced Rose as it was made from 100% Cabernet I found out. I really enjoyed this wine.
Wine & Cheese Pair Perfectly
I have to say that my wine review may have been a bit tainted by my cheese tasting during this experience. While both were enjoyable, the cheese was just as full bodied as the wine. I wish that I had tried their 2021 Rose because it was an intriguing brilliant reddened pink tone that looked nontraditional from the Roses I have seen. Either way, the tasting was a win, win for me.
This was only stop three of our wine walk and there are still eight more to go. I’ll be updating the links below as we post them so stay tuned for the next post!
Wine Tasting Notes to Come!
♦Harbinator Wines♦ ♦Drum Roll Wine♦ ♦Naches Heights Vineyard♦ ♦Kerloo Cellars♦ ♦Wandering Wolf Cellars♦ ♦Dahlman Cellars♦ ♦Martedi Cellars♦ ♦Navarre Coulee♦ ♦Bayernmoor♦ ♦Julian Margot♦ ♦Michael Florentino Cellars♦
Blog Written by Kerriann Jenkins
Blog Feature Chasity Rodriguez
Bayernmoor Wine Tasting
Bayernmoor Wine Tasting Stop #2
We spent our second ticket from the Mill Creek Town Center Summer Wine Walk at Zeek’s Pizza for a Bayernmoor wine tasting. When we walked in their long beer list caught my eye and drew my attention down to the Bayernmoor wine on their serving counter. I overheard the sommelier letting the group ahead of us know that their 2017 Washington State Pinot Noir had received multiple gold and double gold awards, and I knew I was going to have to try it.
Bayernmoor hosted by Zeek’s Pizza
Bayernmoor is a family-owned winery and vineyard located in Stanwood Washington. The winery has gained notoriety thanks to the cumulative efforts of the Harris and Biesecker families and winemaker Brian Carter. They source their Pinot from their own vineyard’s 6 acres of Pinot Noir and the rest of their grapes they get from other renowned growers in the state. They take a minimalist approach to creating the best wine possible without a lot of interfering processing.
Kerriann’s Bayernmoor Wine Tasting Notes 2017 Washington State Pinot Noir
Bayernmoor’s 2017 Washington State Pinot Noir had been branded with high praise. So, I had high expectations going into this tasting. The wine poured a light bright translucent red and smelled deliciously AMAZING. This wine smelled so much like maple that I had to hand it over to Chasity to sniff it before I took a sip. I expected this wine to be equally as sweet because of the smell but it was more like a rollercoaster of unexpected flavors. The first sip perked up my taste buds with a tartness I hadn’t anticipated. Flavors of cherry, tobacco, spices, and a light sweetness followed. Overall, this was a fun wine to drink.
Credit: Wine bottle imagery from Bayernmoor’s website
Chasity’s Bayernmoor Wine Tasting Notes 2019 Washington State Rose
So I started with the Bayernmoor 2019 Rose as I like to try all different types here in Washington. I ended up not remembering what it tasted like (hahaha) as I tried Kerriann’s 2017 Pinot Noir and liked that so much better. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as Pinot Noir is usually one of my least favorites, go figure! The first taste of the Pinot Noir plays with your taste buds. It gives off a maple smell but the taste ends with a bitterness which surprisingly I couldn’t get enough of! It offered a great balance of sweet and bitter, I would try this again for sure.
Overall We Enjoyed Our Second Stop
After our tasting I can understand why Bayernmoor had received numerous awards on their wine. Their 2017 Washington State Pinot Noir took me by surprise with its storm of flavors. If this wine was made into a candle, I would love to smell it all day long. This was only stop number two of our wine walk and there are still nine more to go. I’ll be updating the links below as we post them so stay tuned for the next post!
Wine Tasting Notes to Come!
♦Harbinator Wines♦ ♦Drum Roll Wine♦ ♦Naches Heights Vineyard♦ ♦Kerloo Cellars♦ ♦Wandering Wolf Cellars♦ ♦Dahlman Cellars♦ ♦Martedi Cellars♦ ♦Navarre Coulee♦ ♦Bayernmoor♦ ♦Julian Margot♦ ♦Michael Florentino Cellars♦
Blog written by Kerriann Jenkins
Blog Feature Chasity Rodriguez
Real Estate Market: It’s All About Affordability
Analyzing Real Estate Market Numbers in 2022
The Washington Center for Real Estate Research at the University of Washington provides one of my favorite charts for analyzing the state of the local real estate market. It is the housing affordability index, which is released quarterly and delivers housing affordability statistics by county. To understand how the measurements function, the WCRER describes it like this:
The Housing Affordability Index measures the ability of a middle-income family to carry the mortgage payments on a medium price home. When the index is 100, there is a balance between the family’s ability to pay and the cost. Higher indexes indicate housing is more affordable.
WCRER’s index takes into consideration housing prices, incomes, interest rates, inflation, and the ability to save for down payment, etc. As economic conditions change, so does the index. Simply put, if the index is above 100, housing is affordable to middle income families. If the index is below 100, it is not. The lower the index, the less affordable housing is to middle income families.
The problem we are facing in the real estate world today is affordability. I have prepared a chart that shows how closed real estate transactions in Snohomish County nearly mirrors the WCRER affordability index for the past five years. The most recently released index number in Snohomish County stands at 60 and real estate transactions are following suit, as is to be expected. Home sales in Snohomish County are down nearly 13% over this time last year. Ten percent of that took place in the last two months.
5 Year Closed Sales and Affordability Index in Snohomish County by Windermere Mill Creek
The Big Three and Their Affect on the Real Estate Market
The main drivers of these statistical changes in real estate market affordability are what I call the Big Three: Wages, Interest Rates, and Home Pricing. Housing prices have soared for the past decade, driven by low inventory and low interest rates, causing many buyers to be priced out of the market. However, interest rates have doubled in the last year and now more buyers have been removed from the market. The result: the real estate market has slowed dramatically.
Interest rates
As in any free market economy, market forces shape supply and demand for products and commodities. In our current economic situation, we are seeing inflation at 40-year highs. To counteract this, the FED is taking action to get inflation under control by way of raising interest rates. Unfortunately for the real estate market, this solution is meant to curtail consumer spending and runaway pricing. In my opinion, this is not a short-term solution. It takes time for higher interest rates to make a dent on inflationary pressures. Home buyers should not be looking for interest rates to be lower any time soon.
Credit: Fannie Mae
Wages
Wages will continue to rise as they have since the dawn of time. However, this too is a long-term solution to the housing affordability problem. Wages rise, but slowly. The average increase in annual salary has averaged about 3% for decades. It is estimated that 2022 will be no different. The problem remains that a 3% salary increase does not compensate for interest rates that have doubled, inflation running at around 8% and housing prices at all-time highs.
Credit: The Conference Board
Housing Prices
In order to bring the housing affordability Index numbers back in line, something has to give. Market forces start working whether we like it or not. In the case of the real estate market in Snohomish County, we know that we cannot count on interest rates to come in lower in the near term and we know that wages are not keeping pace with inflation or interest rates. All that’s left to compensate for our affordability condition is housing prices, and we are currently seeing downward pressure. The last two months alone have seen a decline of 10% in housing prices in Snohomish County.
Is the Current Real Estate Market Good or Bad?
Are housing prices dropping in our county a good or bad thing? In my humble opinion, it is neither good, nor bad. It is just market forces recalibrating affordability. It is the nature of a free market economy. I see this as the only choice, in the near term, for housing affordability and the real estate market, to reset itself and return to a normal state. I do not see an impending market crash coming like the one the market experienced in 2008. I see this as a minor correction in pricing until affordability numbers align themselves again. I don’t expect this to last long. Nor do I think prices will continue to fall significantly. So, if you’re waiting for housing prices to drop considerably before you purchase, you will probably be missing a great buying opportunity.
If you are thinking of selling soon, you may have to face a new reality. The market conditions respond to market forces. It’s impossible to time the market and in the end, we are all on the same ride. It’s neither good nor bad, it’s just the way it is.
Written by Owner Chris Hill
Fall Reading List
Fall is upon us whether we like it not, I preferably am not ready because I LOVE summer in the PNW! Fall is perfect though for a cozy cup of coffee or tea and a good book to read. I have some really great books picked for you, one is a thriller and the other takes place in London during WWII. As always let us know what you think!
Visit there site here, www.sno-isle.org/mill-creek
Girl, Forgotten Girl, by Slaughter, Karin
A small town hides a big secret…
Who killed Emily Vaughn?
Prom Night. Longbill Beach, 1982. Emily Vaughn dresses carefully for what’s supposed to be the highlight of any high school career. But Emily has a secret. And by the end of the night, because of that secret, she will be dead.
Nearly forty years later, Andrea Oliver, newly qualified as a US Marshal, receives her first assignment: to go to Longbill Beach to protect a judge receiving death threats. But Andrea’s real focus isn’t the judge – it’s Emily Vaughn. Ever since she first heard Emily’s name a year ago, she’s been haunted by her brutal death. Nobody was ever convicted – her friends closed ranks, her family shut themselves off in their grief, the town moved on – so the killer is still out there. But now Andrea has a chance to find out what really happened…
Where the Sky Begins, by Bowen, Rhys
A woman’s future is determined by fate and choice in a gripping WWII novel about danger, triumph, and second chances by the New York Times bestselling author of The Venice Sketchbook and The Tuscan Child.
London, 1940. Bombs fall and Josie Banks’s world crumbles around her. Her overbearing husband, Stan, is unreachable, called to service. Her home, a ruin of rubble and ash. Josie’s beloved tearoom boss has been killed, and Josie herself is injured, with nothing left and nowhere to go.
Evacuated to the English countryside, Josie ends up at the estate of the aristocratic Miss Harcourt, a reluctant host to the survivors of the Blitz. Awed as she is by the magnificent landscape, Josie sees opportunity. Josie convinces Miss Harcourt to let her open a humble tea shop, seeing it as a chance for everyone to begin again. When Josie meets Mike Johnson, a handsome Canadian pilot stationed at a neighboring bomber base, a growing intimacy brings her an inner peace she’s never felt before. Then Stan returns from the war.
Now a threat looms larger than anyone imagined. And a dangerous secret is about to upend Josie’s life again. Her newfound courage will be put to the test if she is to emerge, like a survivor, triumphant.
Enjoy the reading picks!
Blog written by Chasity Rodriguez
Harbinator Wines Tasting
Mill Creek Town Center Summer Wine Walk Stop #1
On August 27th our creative team, myself included, went to the Mill Creek Town Center Summer Wine Walk. We started our little adventure at Brooklyn Brothers Pizza and grabbed ourselves a slice before the event. Conveniently, they were hosting Harbinator Wines and would become our first stop of our tastings. Since this was my second time attending, I was better prepared to maneuver my way through the hosting businesses and use up my 10 tasting tickets and bonus tasting gold coin. I am pleased to report that this time I used them all!
Harbinator Wines hosted by Brooklyn Brothers Pizza:
At our first stop of the wine tasting, I sampled the 2018 Harbinator Cabernet Franc or Cop Franc. Harbinator is a smaller garage-based winery that sources their grapes from Ciel du Cheval Vineyard from the Red Mountain AVA here in Washington. They have a minimal online presence because their website is currently under construction. But if you have a sense of humor the social media content they have shared will tell you all about who they are as a company.
Harbinator Wines Has a Small but Mighty Social Media Presence
On their Facebook page there is a video titled “Hand produced wines.” If you click on it, you will see this direct quote: “Welcome to our page! We are a super small winery with fantastic wines. We hand process all of our wines from vine to bottle with a whole lot of help from friends. We’re just now learning how to get our sh*t together, so if you are interested in trying some of our wines, message or email us and we’d be happy to discuss our current inventory and how to get it to you.”
They Gave Top Notch Sommelier Service
At the event, our wine pourers were just as personable. I believe they were the owners, but we never traded names. As we approached, we got to watch them decant their entire bottle before serving us. They greeted us warmly and let us know which wine was their favorite of the ones they had to offer; which doesn’t sound like a big deal, but I have experienced sommeliers at this event who wouldn’t offer up an opinion and that makes the experience awkward. From their recommendation I ended up asking for the 2018 Harbinator Cop Franc.
Credit: Harbinator Wines Facebook
Kerriann’s Wine Tasting Notes for the 2018 Cop Franc
The Cop Franc poured out a light ruby shade. It had a very light smell. Like a soft touch of aromatic sweetness and earth on the nose. Upon first sip I noted that I liked this wine. The best way I can describe it is that the Cabernet Franc was like a softer, fresher version of a Cabernet Sauvignon. The flavor profiles all presented themselves much quieter. It was gently sweet, softly acidic, delicately bitter and finished evenly with smooth earthy tannins. Overall, the wine was harmonious and enjoyable to sip on. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.
Chasity’s Wine Tasting Notes for the 2017 Cop Franc
The Cop Franc was one of my favorite reds. It provided a light red hue when poured and I enjoyed how the first sip went down so smooth. This wine was sweet in taste but not too sweet. It had a slightly bitter taste but the sweetness evened it out. I’m not a red wine drinker as I have mentioned before but I really enjoyed tasting this one. I give this a 4 out of 5 stars.
A Strong Start to Our Wine Walk Adventure
Harbinator provided us with a great start to our wine walk experience and they were only our first stop. We still have 10 more tastings to review so stay tuned for our next post! I’ll be updating the links below as we post them.
Wine Tasting Notes to Come!
♦Harbinator Wines♦ ♦Drum Roll Wine♦ ♦Naches Heights Vineyard♦ ♦Kerloo Cellars♦ ♦Wandering Wolf Cellars♦ ♦Dahlman Cellars♦ ♦Martedi Cellars♦ ♦Navarre Coulee♦ ♦Bayernmoor♦ ♦Julian Margot♦ ♦Michael Florentino Cellars♦
Blog by Kerriann Jenkins
Blog feature Chasity Rodriguez
Washington Wine Month
Washington Wine Month
August is Washington Wine Month. Well, one of them anyways. As it turns out both March and August are recognized as Washington Wine Month in this grape state. Though, I have been too distracted in my personal life to realize it until the near end.
I Unintentionally Passed Through Wine Country This Month
Horse Heaven Hills as seen from the inside of my car.
While road tripping last week, I sat passenger as we drove through Washington wine country. I got to see firsthand green leafed tailored tendrils of grape vines that had climbed their way up manmade structures. They blurred past us as we drove by. We passed the rust weathered Horse Heaven Hills sign and through what looked like a barren land of sun-bleached grass blowing in the wind. I wondered how growers and winemakers looked at that place and thought to grow there. Then we drove across the Astoria Bridge, and I took in the Columbia River’s vastness for the first time. I grew a deeper appreciation for grape growing and wine production just by passing through the area. Someday I’ll have to stop and actually experience it.
There’s Still Time to Celebrate!
As happenstance occurs the Mill Creek Town Center is hosting another wine walk this Saturday August 27th from 4-7pm. They will be featuring wine from:
Photo Courtesy of Mill Creek Town Center
- Wandering Wolf Cellars at Peoples Bank
- Navarre Coulee at Artisan Custom Framing
- Julian Margot at Banner Bank
- Alluvium Cellars at Brooklyn Brothers Pizza
- Rider Cellars at China City
- Naches Heights Vineyard (NHV) at CruiseShipCenters
- Drum Roll Wine at Frost
- Dahlman Cellars at Windermere (that’s us!)
- RR Poet at John L Scott
- Martedi Winery at Kafe Neo
- Bayernmoor (Use your gold coin for BONUS taste here) at Lilac & Lemon
- Kerloo Cellars at Zeeks Pizza
- Michael Florentino Cellars at Diva Foreva Lashes
- Tricycle Cellars at First Financial Northwest Bank
There are eight new winemakers’ wares to sample at this event and the weather is set to be mildly better than last time. The best part is this event supports Washington Winemakers and businesses. You can click here to read reviews from our experiences at the Spring Mill Creek Wine Walk.
It’s A Great Month to Buy Local
If you are in the Snohomish County area one local business to check out for purchasing Washington made wine is Town & Country Markets. They have 6 locations in Washington State. Specifically referring to the one on Main Street in Mill Creek, they have an entire aisle of Washington State crafted wine. Of course, there are plenty of other places to buy local and it’s always a great time to do that. So, celebrate Washington Wine Month and grab yourself local wine from a local vendor!
31 Happy Halloween Home Finds
31 Happy Halloween Home Finds
Summer hasn’t even ended yet, but Halloween home decorations have started haunting retail store aisles everywhere. I have seen spooktacular items materializing at Bath & Body Works, Target, Marshalls, the Disney store, and Michaels. In fact, some of the more viral items for sale have already sold out online. With that in mind, here is a list of 31 happy Halloween home finds for haunts who want to be the ghost with the most this year to get their hands on before all the treats disappear.
Credit: Bath & Body Works
1.) Water Globe Eye Pedestal 3-Wick Candle Holder at Bath & Body Works $69.95
This is something I have my own eye set upon. It was sold out when I originally came across it and it is back in stock at the time I am writing this. This water globe lights up, has swirling glitter and an eyeball that spins 360 degrees to keep its sights set on you all Halloween long. If you can get over the EEK pricing it is an awesome piece to add to any Halloween display.
Credit: Bath & Body Works
2.) Light-Up Monster Tree Pedestal at Bath & Body Works $69.95
I have a thing for spooky trees. It probably originates from the 90’s when Disney dropped Disney’s Sing-Along Songs: Disneyland Fun and the Halloween anthem Grim Grinning Ghosts came into my life. This tree is an unintentional nod to my childhood conditioning. It has a scary face that glows green and huge sell out potential.
Credit: Bath & Body Works
3.) Witch Hand Pedestal at Bath & Body Works $49.95
This wonderful oddity went viral last year and quickly sold out. Now it is back for the 2022 season and ready to lend a helping hand to your Halloween home display. It gives off Thing from the Addams Family vibes and would make the perfect hand-servant for your home.
Credit: Bath & Body Works
4.) Ivy Hand Gentle Foaming Soap Holder at Bath & Body Works $24.95
This Ivy Hand gentle foaming soap holder is new for the 2022 season. It has also gone viral and is currently out of stock online. So I wish you good luck in getting your clutches on it.
Credit: TikTok #ghostrug
5.) Loloi Ghost Spirited Runner Area Rug found in Store at HomeGoods, Marshalls, & TJ MAXX $25.00
#ghostrug is trending at 12.3M views on tiktok and doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Loloi’s Ghost Spirited Runner is a ghoul gone viral. Originally, a 2021 wonder this specter has returned for the 2022 Halloween season. The 20×60 area rug can be found treasure hunt style at HomeGoods, Marshalls and TJ MAXX in store. If you happen upon it, I recommend you buy it, before it gets spirited away!
Credit: Tiktok #ghostrug
6.) Rachel Zoe Ghost Blankets at HomeGoods, Marshalls & TJ MAXX $24.99
Adorable ghost items seem to be plentiful at HomeGoods, Marshalls & TJ Maxx this year. This Rachel Zoe Ghost blanket comes in 3 different color variations and has also gone viral. It reminds me of the ghosts from Pacman. They are simple and cute and ready for a cuddle if you can find them.
Credit: Home Depot
7.) 12 ft Giant-sized Skeleton with LifeEyes (TM) LCD Eyes at Home Depot $299.00
Home Depot single handedly saved the 2020 Halloween season when they unveiled Skelly, their GIANT lovable 12ft Skeleton. He is a deserved viral sensation who sells out the second he hits the store sales floor. Skelly has inspired some of the coolest Halloween home displays I have ever seen. I have seen armies of smaller skeletons crumbling before Skelly’s feet strewn about lawns and I have seen skeletons bowing down at Skelly’s feet in other displays.
Credit: Home Depot
8.) 12 ft Giant-Sized Inferno Pumpkin Skeleton with LifeEyes(TM) LCD Eyes at Home Depot $379.00
Skelly went over so well that in 2021 Home Depot released a larger than life-sized companion for him. The 12ft Inferno Pumpkin Skeleton features a flame illuminated mouth and chest and moving LCD eyes that cast their eerie glow upon viewers. This skeleton rendition has rotting flesh covered bones and a menacing smile. He will be the perfect focal point in any display. Unfortunately, just like Skelly, the Inferno Pumpkin Skeleton is currently sold out online.
Credit: Target
9.) Ghoulish Garden Boo Bells Halloween Artificial Plant-Hyde & EEK! Boutique at Target $20.00
I have loved Target’s Ghoulish Garden monster plants since I first laid my eyes upon them. For the last 3 years, they have released new additions to their Ghoulish Garden that look like something right out of The Little Shop of Horrors. This year Target continues to grow their glamorous and playful garden by planting jewel toned monster plants in their aisles. The ghost-shaped accents on this one are downright adorable.
Credit: ShopDisney
10.)The Haunted Mansion Throw Pillow at Disney $34.99
Is this haunted pillow actually stretching? Or is it your imagination — hmm? Disney’s Haunted Mansion Throw Pillow features the infamous Haunted mansion stretching portraits on one side and the Haunted Mansion wallpaper on the reverse side. You’ll have to visit the site daily and enchant the spirits to buy this one online though because it has already sold out.
Credit: ShopDisney
11.) The Haunted Mansion Weighted Throw at Disney $74.99
Disney boasts “you’ll love being buried under this weighted Haunted Mansion throw featuring the wallpaper pattern found at the popular attraction. Filled with glass beads and weighing in at 12lbs, it’s designed to reduce stress and aid relaxation so you’ll be able to rest in peace.” This is another 2022 spooky season find you’ll have to hope comes back in stock if you don’t plan to visit Disneyland.
Credit: Shop Disney
12.) The Haunted Mansion Bookend Set- Walt Disney World at Disney $44.99
If you were dead set on getting your hands on something from the Haunted Mansion here is an item that is still in stock online! The Haunted Mansion Bookend Set is a pair of replica headstones from the Haunted Mansion graveyard that feature Dear Departed Brother Dave and Good Old Fred.
Credit: Hallmark
13.) Disney Hocus Pocus Black-Flame Flameless Candle at Hallmark $44.99
I’m summoning all Hocus Pocus fans with this black flame candle. If you have ever dreamed of being the one to light the black flame candle then this is the Halloween home find that you have been missing. Virgins beware! I have a feeling we will be seeing a lot more Hocus Pocus items flying in since Hocus Pocus 2 releases September 30th!
Credit: Home Depot & Gemmy
14.) 6.5 ft Animated Disney Jack Skellington Halloween Animatronic at Home Depot $199.99
Everybody hail to the Pumpkin King! Home Depot knew what they were doing when they created a 6.5 ft lifelike animatronic of Jack Skellington. Whether you think Nightmare Before Christmas is a Halloween movie, a Christmas movie, or an all year long movie you should try to get your hands on this Bone Daddy! Jack’s hands, fingers and mouth all move when his motion detector sensors pick up movement. He also sings Jack’s Lament.
Credit: Home Depot & Gemmy
15.) 6 ft Animated Deluxe Lifesize Sally Halloween Animatronic at Home Depot $199.99
What would a Skeleton King be without his Skeleton Queen? Fittingly, Home Depot is also selling a 6-foot Sally animatronic. Like Jack, Sally has a moves her head and arms and sings Sally’s Song. She is an enchanting ragdoll come to life and perfect for any Tim Burton fan!
Credit: Home Depot & Gemmy
16.) 6 ft Animated Life-Sized Oogie Boogie Halloween Animatronic at Home Depot $229.00
If villainy is your thing then this Halloween home find is for you. Oogie Boogie is animated similar to Jack and Sally. He moves, sways, lights up and sings Oogie’s Song. He may even be harder to get your hands on because he is currently out of stock online. You’ll have to take a gamble and go in person to see if he’s at your local Home Depot.
Credit: BoxLunch
17.)Disney The Nightmare Before Christmas Zero Mood Light – BoxLunch Exclusive $26.90 (on sale for $16.14)
Credit: Lowes
18.) Haunted Living 12-ft Lighted Animatronic Mummy at Lowes $348.00
Are you looking to grow your larger than life Halloween collection? Look no further, because this find is for you! Following the HUGE success Home Depot had with Skelly, Lowes released their very own 12ft eerie skeleton mummy. He moans, he glows 4 colors, he flickers and he is posable. What’s not to love about that?
Credit: Costco
19.) Disney Halloween Town 12 Piece Set at Costco $99
Costco teased this 12 piece spooky town filled with classically dressed Disney Halloween characters back in May. I was fortunate enough to come across the physical display in stores and it is adorable. I am not surprised it is already sold out online and was removed from their website. If you want it, you’ll have to hunt it down in person.
Credit: Wayfair
20.) 6′ H Slender Black Artificial Fir Christmas Tree with 100 LED Lights at Wafair $141.99
I am a fan of blending Christmas into Halloween decorations. But it needs to be spooky, of course. This Halloween you can bring home this evergreen tree turned a scary shade of black and topped with eerie orange glowing lights!
Credit: Michaels
21.) Black Bat Halloween Throw Pillow by Ashland at Michaels $34.99
Sometimes Halloween décor can be subtle and glamorous. I noticed while browsing their website, Michaels has gone heavy handed in the glam Halloween category this year. They also have great coupons, so if you are looking to buy this piece make sure to check out the coupons they are offering.
Credit: Michaels
22.) Gatsby Halloween Welcome Wall Sign by Ashland at Michaels $29.99
This welcome sign is seemingly innocent but foreshadows more sinister happenings yet to come. If you’re looking to create a dark romance themed room this will work perfectly for you!
Credit: Michaels
23.) 16″ Coffin Tabletop Shelf by Ashland at Michaels $34.99
The Coffin Tabletop Shelf at Michael’s has the potential to be as spooky or as glamorous as you want to make it be. It would be perfect for showing off tiny potions and oddities or for housing monster plants. The possibilities are endless.
Credit: Spirit Halloween
24.) Sandworm Greeter – Beetlejuice at Spirit Halloween $44.99
This officially licensed Beetlejuice Sandworm Greeter will get your trick-or-treaters to jump in line and rock their body in time. Beetlejuice is another beloved Halloween icon ready to haunt your halls this Halloween!
Credit: Spirit Halloween
25.) Light-Up LED Mantel Scarf – Hocus Pocus at Spirit Halloween $16.99
Spruce up your home with this Light-Up LED Mantel Scarf featuring images of non-other then the Sanderson Sisters! I have a feeling it won’t be in stock very long once the Hocus Pocus 2 movie comes out.
Credit: Marshalls
26.) LIGHT YOUR PATH 37in Witch Fire Screen at Marshalls $59.99
Even though this Witch Fire Screen is marketed as a fireplace cover, it has potential to be so much more! I can see this being a good backdrop to put behind pumpkins or any Halloween display you can dream up.
Credit: Pottery Barn
27.) Pre-Lit Black Glitter Branch Wreath with Bats at Pottery Barn $59.00
This bat wreath is designed in Pottery Barn’s classic traditional style. If you’re not a big fan of Halloween fandoms and lean more into the traditional Halloween classic look then this wreath is perfect for you. It leans a little more into old magical glamour styling with just enough of a touch of whimsy to keep it interesting.
Credit: Amazon
28.) Mindscope Jabberin Jack Talking Animated Pumpkin with Built in Projector & Speaker Plug’n Play on Amazon $59.99
Now this was a truly fun find! Mindscope’s Jabberin Jack Talking Animated Pumpkin sings and talks and provides 3 unique characters programmed with 9 songs and 120 lines of jokes and phrases. You can select from Spooky, Traditional or Goofy settings and watch Jabberin’ Jack come to life from the short throw projector inside of his pumpkin shell. Kids will love this one.
Credit: Big Lots
29.) LED & Sound Color-Changing Haunted House at Big Lots $25.00
You can’t go wrong with a classic spooky haunted house. This one can be found at Big Lots for a reasonable low price. It lights up and shows off creepy figures in its windows and plays spooky sounds.
Credit: Big Lots
30.) 48″ Enchanted Broom Animated Decor at Big Lots $35.00
Credit: Lowes
31.) Disney 2-ft Lighted Mickey Mouse Blow Mold at Lowes $49.98
You have to hunt down this mouse for your house this Halloween. The Lowes Mickey Mouse Blow Mold figure lights up and looks dapper enough to usher your guests in at your doorway. Whether tricks or treats await them inside is up to you! Lowes also has a matching Minnie Mouse Blow Mold figure if you think your Mickey needs a friend.
Get It Or Get Ghosted
This year the spectral spooks of Halloween showed up unconventionally early. The demand is high and the supply is low. Whether or not you like the commercialism factor of holidays the hot ticket items are already sold out. If there is something on our list of 31 happy Halloween home finds that you’re dying to get your hands on you had better get it before you get ghosted.
Blog Written by: Kerriann Jenkins
7 Tips For Better Wine Storage
7 Tips for Better Wine Storage Because Wine Is Fickle
I have heard the age-old adage: “wine gets better with age” and I have stored bottles of wine only to open them later and find out they did not get better with age. As it turns out, wine is fickler than that. I have found that wine gets better with age only when properly stored. So, if you want to avoid spoiling your wine read on to see the 7 tips for better wine storage I’ve picked up along the way.
1.) Store Wine Not Too Hot
I have read that wine keeps best at temperatures between 45-65 degrees. Temperatures above 65 degrees causes chemical reactions to begin to take place in your bottle of wine. Once this chemical reaction begins your wine profile flavors will change. At 80 degrees your wine begins to cook itself within its bottle. Referring to my middle school science class. Once a liquid is boiled it will expand into a gas. Given that wine is sealed in a glass bottle this can cause the cork to rupture or expand and contract as it cools. This process will lead to oxidation and premature aging meaning your wine will taste more like jam or vinegar. You can even bake down your alcohol content level. All things I personally would like to avoid.
2.) Store Wine Not Too Cold
Conversely, temperatures below 45 degrees can lead the wine to expand as it freezes. Unlike other spirited drinks, wine is mostly made of water. So, like freezing water to make ice cubes, the wine will expand inside of its container space. This can lead to a cork or cap rupture which can lead to the wine oxidizing after you pull the bottle from the freezer to thaw. Moreover, your wine bottle can burst leaving you with a glassy dangerous disaster. Remember, frozen wine is not the same as a Frose.
3.) Store Wine in Dark Places
As tempting as it may be to put your wine bottles on display you should store your wine collection in a darker area. Light and UV exposure can cause your wine temperature to rise into wine altering levels. Going back to the “Store Wine Not Too Hot” section, wine should be kept cool to avoid cooking. Additionally, light and UV exposure can damage your wine labels. So, keep your wine in a walled display, a closet, or a cabinet if you don’t have access to a fancy wine fridge or wine cellar.
7 Wine Storage Tips by Windermere Mill Creek
Download your very own 7 Tips For Better Storage Printable here: 7 Tips for Better Wine Storage Printable Poster
4.) Store Wine Sideways
This is where I have historically gone wrong with my wine storage. Wine should be stored sideways. Though this is more important for wine bottles with corks. Traditionally, corks are made up of tree bark and other porous material. Laying a bottle sideways allows the cork to maintain contact with the wine in the bottle. Just like a tree absorbs a fractional amount of rain moisture the cork will absorb moisture from the wine. This will keep the cork expanded enough to contain the wine inside of the bottle.
5.) Store Wine in a Humid Controlled Environment
Humidity is key to keeping a cork intact. It is said that wine should be kept at about 70% humidity to keep the cork moist. As a result, anything less will cause the wine cork to crack and oxidize the wine inside. Anything more can promote mold growth.
6.) Store Wine in a Wine Fridge or Cellar
Wine can become a big investment when you start to grow your collection. I should mention that the bottles of wine that are intended for aging are usually $30 and over. Once you notice that your collection is growing you should seriously consider purchasing a wine fridge or cellar setup. The ideal temperature for a standard refrigerator is 40 degrees. Referring to the “Store Wine Not Too Cold” section, this temperature is too cold for adequate wine storage. To protect your investment, you should invest in the proper storage setup.
7.) Store Wine in Your Belly!
The final tip for better wine storage is the most enjoyable of all. Most of the wine crafted these days reaches the perfect drinking age within a few years of its creation. Unless you are intentionally growing your expensive collection in a controlled location it is best to just drink it because at the end of the day wine is made for drinking.
Blog & Graphic Poster by: Kerriann Jenkins
